Higher gas prices and the recent shortage have the City doing business a little differently these days and the change is paying off. For the first two months of the fiscal year, which started July 1, 2008, overall, the City reduced gas consumption by 12%. City employees have been asked to defer routine activities like business license checks and fire hydrant maintenance that can be handled when gas is more readily available.

Gainesville Public Utility customers can now pay their bills and track their water usage on-line. According to our Public Utilities staff, the new way to pay is catching on. In the first month, more than 300 accounts were created and 201 payments were processed totaling more than $10,000. Customers can help by opting for an email notification of their bill at www.ubpayments.com.

The City of Gainesville recently opened a wellness center to help keep health care costs down among city employees. The center is located just off Queen City Parkway at Ridge Road. The clinic, operated by CareHere®, will be staffed a few days a week by a doctor and an administrator. The clinic will provide primary health care service.

And I’d like to congratulate our Finance Department for receiving a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007. The award was announced by the Government Finance Officers Association.

If you have any questions about any of the stories in this newsletter email citycouncil@gainesville.org or call 770-535-6865.